2024-09-23 21:38:56 ¶ ●

It’s amusing how Hannibal expresses callous unconcern towards Will throughout season 1 but it is not the case by the end of season 2. Initially, Will was the top he spun to see how long it’d spin and which way it’d fall. Harming Will was a tool and a function of life. But throughout season 2 as we focus more on Hannibal’s internal thoughts, we can see Will burrowing into Hannibal’s soft spots. Will starts to mean more to Hannibal than an experiment or any other patient—Will is now a confidant. Will is interesting beyond his uniqueness; he’s angry, he’s sharp-edged, and he’s cruel. He is a burst of flavour on the tongue and sharp, painful teeth at his neck. He holds a gun to Hannibal’s head and threatens him. He tries to hurt and hurt again because he’s furious. He lets Hannibal hold his hands and clean his wounds knowing who he is, he takes the knife from his hands to cut into human flesh knowing who he is. Will is the soft underbelly of a great beast and cutting into him makes Hannibal feel. Nothing callous about the hurt he makes spill in Mizumono—he can barely breathe and stop gritting his teeth.